Current Affairs 12th June 2026
MAJOR LAKES OF INDIA
Jammu & Kashmir
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Dal Lake
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Wular Lake
Kerala
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Vembanad Lake
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Ashtamudi Lake
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Periyar Lake
Madhya Pradesh
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Bhojtal Lake
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Indira Sagar Lake
Maharashtra
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Lonar Lake
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Shiv Sagar Lake
1. Indian-Origin Scientist Gautam Dey Bags EMBO Gold Medal 2026

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Prestigious Recognition: The European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) has awarded its prestigious 2026 Gold Medal to Gautam Dey, a group leader at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Germany. This annual honor recognizes exceptional researchers in the early stages of their independent careers for their outstanding contributions to the life sciences in Europe.
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Groundbreaking Research: Dr. Dey is being celebrated for his pioneering work on the evolutionary origins of nuclear organization and cell division. His laboratory utilizes a unique combination of comparative cell biology, experimental evolution, and genomics to investigate how key cellular processes have diversified across eukaryotes over billions of years.
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Academic Journey: An Indian-origin scientist, Dr. Dey completed his early education at the University of Delhi and the National Centre for Biological Sciences in Bangalore.
2. Rudra Gaurav Shresth appointed as India's Ambassador to the Republic of Turkiye

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New Diplomatic Posting: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has officially appointed senior Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer Rudra Gaurav Shresth as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Türkiye. A seasoned 1999-batch diplomat, he is expected to transition from his current role in Tehran to take charge in Ankara shortly.
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Strategic Experience: Shresth brings extensive experience from his tenure as India's Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Iran, where he managed critical matters related to energy security and regional connectivity. His background is expected to play a pivotal role in strengthening India's bilateral cooperation with Türkiye in areas such as trade, investment, and technology.
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Diplomatic Background: Throughout his career, Shresth has served in various significant diplomatic missions, including postings in France, Mauritius, Afghanistan, Singapore, and Bhutan. He also served as the High Commissioner to Mozambique and completed a notable three-year deputation to the Prime Minister’s Office in New Delhi.
3. ICAR Launches Oilseeds Kisaan Mitra AI Advisory via WhatsApp

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Multilingual Digital Support: The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has introduced 'Oilseeds Kisaan Mitra,' a 24/7 AI-powered chatbot designed to provide instant, scientific agricultural advice. Farmers can access this service directly through WhatsApp in multiple Indian regional languages without needing to download any additional applications.
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Comprehensive Crop Guidance: Developed by the ICAR-Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research (IIOR), the platform offers expert guidance on the entire crop cycle for major oilseeds like groundnut, soybean, mustard, and sunflower. It covers essential topics such as seed selection, agronomic practices, pest and disease management, and post-harvest operations.
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Bridging the Research Gap: Theinitiative aims to enhance domestic oilseed production by connecting farmers to a verified scientific knowledge base synthesized from several premier ICAR institutes. By simply saving the number +91 4024598180, farmers across India gain free, real-time access to professional agricultural expertise regardless of their location.
Footnotes: ICAR's DG: Dr. Mangi Lal Jat
4. Sri Lanka ranked 67th in Global Peace Index

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Significant Improvement: Sri Lanka has climbed 14 places to secure the 67th position globally in the 2026 Global Peace Index, reflecting a notable recovery in national stability. This advancement marks one of the most significant improvements in the region, showcasing progress in public security and social cohesion.
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Regional Standing: Within South Asia, Sri Lanka has achieved the second-most peaceful ranking, trailing only behind Bhutan. This positive trajectory contrasts with the broader regional trend, where South Asia recorded its worst deterioration in peacefulness on this year's index.
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Key Drivers of Progress: The country's improved score was primarily driven by advancements in the militarisation domain and a 25% improvement in indicators related to political instability. These gains reflect ongoing efforts to rebuild economic resilience and confidence following the challenges of the 2022 financial crisis.
Footnotes: Sri Lanka's President: Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Capital: Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
5. India to remain fastest growing economy at 6.6% in FY27

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World Bank Projections: The World Bank has projected India's GDP growth at 6.6% for the financial year 2026-27, maintaining its status as the world’s fastest-growing major economy. While this represents a moderation from the 7.7% growth recorded in FY26, the forecast highlights the country's continued economic resilience amidst global headwinds.
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Drivers of Domestic Demand: Economic activity remains robust due to strong internal demand, particularly with resilient private consumption in rural areas and a steady recovery in urban markets. Government measures, including strategic tax adjustments such as reductions in Goods and Services Tax (GST) rates, are expected to further support consumer spending.
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Global Resilience and Future Outlook: Despite challenges like higher energy prices and geopolitical uncertainties affecting global trade, India is expected to navigate these pressures through improved export prospects and upcoming free trade agreements. The economy is anticipated to rebound significantly, with growth forecasts projected to rise to 7.2% in FY28.
6. DFS Secretary Sanjay Lohiya named director on RBI

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Strategic Appointment: The Government of India has officially nominated Sanjay Lohiya, Secretary of the Department of Financial Services (DFS), as a Director on the Central Board of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). This appointment, effective from June 11, 2026, reinforces the coordination between the Ministry of Finance and the central bank on critical monetary and regulatory matters.
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Dual Responsibility: In addition to his new role at the RBI, Mr. Lohiya has also been appointed as a director on the Central Board of the State Bank of India (SBI). He succeeds former DFS Secretary M. Nagaraju, who retired from government service last month after completing his tenure.
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Administrative Background: A 1994-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre, Mr. Lohiya assumed charge as the DFS Secretary on June 1, 2026. He brings extensive experience to these board positions, having previously served in key roles within the Ministry of Mines and the Prime Minister’s Office.
Footnotes: RBI's Governor: Sanjay Malhotra, HQ: Mumbai, Estd: 1935
7. BSNL, IIT Kanpur sign MoU for next-generation telecom technologies

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Strategic Collaboration: Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to accelerate the development, testing, and commercialization of next-generation telecom technologies. This partnership bridges academic research excellence with BSNL's nationwide infrastructure to foster indigenous digital innovations and support the "Atmanirbhar Bharat" initiative.
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Focus on D2M and Connectivity: A core objective of this agreement is to advance Direct-to-Mobile (D2M) broadcasting, a transformative technology that delivers multimedia content directly to mobile devices without relying on cellular data. The collaboration will also explore the development of a "Bharat Mesh Network" and other advanced wireless frameworks to enhance connectivity across rural and urban regions.
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Research and Deployment Synergy: The agreement provides researchers with access to BSNL’s physical assets, such as telecom towers and fiber networks, to conduct live field trials and validation.
Footnotes: BSNL's Chairman & MD: Robert J. Ravi, HQ: New Delhi, Estd: 2000
8. Jaspal Rana, former Asian Games gold medallist, passed away at 49

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Tragic Loss for Indian Sports: Indian shooting icon and decorated coach Jaspal Rana passed away at a private hospital in New Delhi on June 11, 2026, at the age of 49. He had been suffering from heart-related complications after falling ill during his return from the ISSF World Cup in Munich, Germany.
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A Storied Athletic Career: A trailblazer in Indian shooting, Rana was a multiple-time Asian Games gold medallist and a Commonwealth Games champion who dominated the sport for nearly two decades.
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Mentorship and Legacy: Beyond his competitive success, Rana was a highly respected coach who famously mentored Manu Bhaker to her historic double bronze-medal performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
WHAT HAPPENED TODAY
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World Day Against Child Labour 2026: 12th June
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Theme 2026: "Red Card to Child Labour: Fair Play for Children, Decent Work for Adults."
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The 2026 observance urges faster action to achieve SDG Target 8.7, which aims to eliminate all forms of child labour.
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